-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 3rd Annual Konkan Fruit Fest, Goa - May 6-8, 2005 | | | | Today's Events include Mango Eating Competition, Fruit carving and | | Cultural Programs. Check out http://konkanfruit.swiki.net | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lorna the singer has all along struck a special chord with her audience wherever she has performed. A relationship, which dates back to almost four decades. Lorna Cordeiro is a special breed of a singer who comes once in a while. The old and the young all wait to hear and se her in flesh and blood from close quarters.
The Mumbai based Saligao boprn Konkani singer is back again in goa for the holiday season, specially flown in by the organizers of the Cuncolim summer Nite- Cuncolim union to perform on may 7th at Cuncolim. Lorna spoke to Armstrong Vaz while traveling from Dabolim airport to her hotel in colva. Twenty three years away from the public glare the nightingale of Konkani singing made her first public appearance in 1995 for the food festival at Miramar sending her fans into raptures. Simultaneously she also released her cassette "Aikat mogho Tavo" (listen to my voice). That was the end of the a self imposed exile. On asked to give a head count of the numner of albums she has lended her voice post 1995, she puts it at around 300 casettees. She is so much in demand and a vopice which sells for the small Konkani music loving people. She has a hectic schedule with hordes of singers ever eager tp put her voice on their cassettes. " A couple of people came to know that I am Travelling to Goa this week and having recorded a couple of songs in Mumbai, they now would be goa for recording another couple of songs, " she disclosed. Lorna the singer would not lend her voice for any song written by the music director or lyrics writer. "I make sureI first read the lines of the song and try to make whatever changes and suggestions in the way the song should be, to make the song stand out". No one stand out against her experience and acumen, indeed she calls the shots. Being a pupil and discovery of the legendery late Chris perry, the pupil has learnt a few music composition tricks from the master musician herself. "No one can match chris perry, he was a class apart, his music compositions are there for every one to hear , we were both made for each other on the music field. Of all the musicians I have worked I have not come across a musician better than him." Lorna states with nostalgic memories and with a frown on her face which glows as she recalls her association with her discoverer. "I was basically a bar singer singing English numbers in the Mumbai hotels, till chris perry came along and took me under his wings. I was unsure about singing in Konkani and that too in Salcete accent as I was sued to the Bardex accent of Konakni. Chris perry Instilled all the confidence in me. I never dreamt of reaching such dizzy heights and would not have never imagined that I would be Konkani singer" she recalls in a emotionally choked voice. Lorna has mesmired audiences with her melodious voices in sorgar Rajath ( In heaven), Calangute, Bebedo (drunkard) Lisbao, to name a few of her songs of the 60 s and 70,s. Ash her to list her favourite all time songs she says she is a deeply emotional person and songs which take her closer to the audience and struck an emotional chord with her audience are her favourite songs. Recently back from tours of Portugal, England and Dubai, she was deeply touched by the tremendous response she and her troupe got in England" Initially we had planned to hold three shows but we had to perform another two shows. All the shows were packed to capacity." "all of us Ben Evanglisto, Norman Cardozo and Dominic have been invited again to perform next year In England, besides invitation has also come in from people in America for a performance in USA" She also traveled to Portugal and was fortunate to play to a select audience hand picked by the president of Portugal , for a party hosted by the president of Portugal. " It was a dream come true for me, to travel to Portugal and sing in that country. I was all the more fortunate to sing for the president. I started with my song Lisboa and then we sang two more Portuguese numbers." I will also travel to dubai and Mangalore this month for shows' in both the places she adds. Lorna who first shot into prominence as a church singer as a young child opines tha there are a lot of talented singers and musicians through out goa. "we need some one to push them forward and provide them the opening". The dream pairing of Lorna and ace singer late Alfred rose did not coime about she recalls in repose to a query whether the two had ever sung together. On why she never made any foray into Bolloywood singing, she points that" every half an hour a new singer is born, singers who can hardly sing. you need money and god fatrhers to push yourself in Bolloywood" She then shoots back and questions "why is that our Remo is not getting many offers from Bollywood. In Canada lorna has been conferred with the life time achievement award for her contribution to the Konkani singing. Lorna would perform in Cuncolim on May 7. a village in which she last sung 30 years back. She last performed for a dance in Dnadora Cuncolim. Incidentally Lorna mentor Chris perry wife also hail from Cuncolim. "Tell the people of Cuncolim I love them all, I would love to see them in large numbers for my show" she adds. Till then the people of Cuncolim and surrounding villages have a date with Lorna on Saturday night. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- * G * O * A * N * E * T *** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Make your mother in Goa happy on Mothers' Day. http://www.goa-world.com/goa/expressions/mothersday/ Limited "Mother's Happiness" packages. First come, first serve. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
